4058-chapter-68
Chapter 68
Bai Shuo was a clever person; she firmly believed in using her intellect to solve problems rather than relying on magical powers—especially since she didn’t have much spiritual energy to begin with.
So, when Qing Yi deliberately waited for her beneath the Jiuhua Pavilion, she knew that her earlier instructions to Chong Zhao had been in vain.
Perhaps when Qing Yi had asked her about the origin of the jade flute that day, she could still withhold some information, not knowing the full reason.
But after learning that Chong Zhao had entered the human imperial city, there was no point in hiding the truth anymore.
She had appeared in a Yi city, and not only Mu Jiu, but even the immortal like Beichen and Shou’an knew that she came from the Piaomiao Sect and was Chong Zhao’s fellow disciple.
If Qing Yi took the trouble to investigate Chong Zhao’s identity during his mortal life, the assassination attempt in the imperial city would no longer be a secret.
For an immortal to assassinate the Ziwei was akin to defying heaven itself. According to immortal law, such an act was punishable by death.
Bai Shuo never expected that the immortal she had casually saved with her jade flute would bring such immense trouble to Chong Zhao.
Now that things had come to this, she could only gamble.
The Daze Mountain had a 60,000-year legacy and was known for its benevolence.
“Bai Shuo of Piaomiao, greets Lord Qing Yi.”
Before Qingyi could speak, Bai Shuo stepped forward and bowed.
Qing Yi looked at her, the heaviness in his eyes slightly dissipating.
“Why have you stopped deceiving me?”
Since Bai Shuo had chosen to no longer hide the truth from him, perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope.
“As you can see, I have only managed to cultivate half-immortal status. By all accounts, I am merely an outer disciple of Piaomiao.”
Qing Yi didn’t immediately arrest her for interrogation, and Bai Shuo breathed a sigh of relief.
“Since you are a disciple of Piaomiao, why did you deceive me into taking you to Wutong Island?”
“Didn’t you deceive me as well? I didn’t know you were the nephew of the Phoenix Emperor and the connected with Lord Donghua,” Bai Shuo muttered, lowering her head.
Suddenly, she spoke up, “Lord, that day you offered me a mountain talisman to repay my life-saving grace. May I now use the favor of that talisman to ask you for something?”
“You wish for me to stop investigating the matter of the jade flute?”
“Not exactly. I would like to ask you to listen to a story,” Bai Shuo said, raising her head with a pleading expression.
Qing Yi was taken aback but nodded.
Bai Shuo turned her head, gazing at a corner of the Xiaoyao Pavilion, and began to speak.
“Long ago, in the human imperial city, the General’s mansion welcomed a pair of twin daughters. The elder sister, Bai Xi, was calm and composed, and from a young age, she was betrothed to the Crown Prince. The younger sister, Bai Shuo, was playful and willful, and she was engaged to the eldest son of the Prime Minister’s family, Chong Zhao…”
The night was long, and outside the silent Jiuhua Pavilion, only Bai Shuo’s voice could be heard.
Most immortals rarely reminisced about their mortal pasts.
The endless journey of immortality spanned thousands of years, and a mere few decades of mortal life seemed insignificant.
But for Bai Shuo and Chong Zhao, whose time as immortals was still short, those dozen or so years in the mortal world felt more real.
After what felt like an eternity, Bai Shuo turned back to look at Qing Yi.
“The entire Chong family was executed. I begged my father to save Ah Zhao, and from then on, we left the mortal world together and joined the Piaomiao Sect. Lord Qing Yi, Ah Zhao is inherently kind-hearted, not a rebellious or murderous person. It’s just that he was suddenly struck by great tragedy and harbored resentment toward the human emperor, which led him to break into the imperial city and commit a grave mistake.”
Bai Shuo recounted the few short years of their mortal lives but omitted everything that had happened after they joined Piaomiao.
Qing Yi looked at Bai Shuo, and suddenly it dawned on him where his sense of familiarity with her had come from.
He had met Bai Shuo before.
Years ago, during a demon uprising at Muxiao Mountain in the mortal realm, he had saved a pair of unconscious mortal girls.
Time had passed, and he never expected that those two girls would now tread the path of immortality and find themselves in such circumstances.
“From what I know, the Ziwei descended to the mortal realm, ruled diligently, loved his people, and was wise in his appointments. He did not execute loyal ministers,” Qingyi frowned.
“So… the execution of the entire Chong family for treason was not an unjust case.”
Bai Shuo’s expression showed no surprise.
“Yes, my father once told me that Prime Minister Chong had raised a private army and indeed harbored rebellious intentions.”
Qing Yi was startled.
“Chong Zhao didn’t know?”
Bai Shuo shook her head.
“At that time, Ah Zhao was just a boy. His entire family was slaughtered, and he lost all his loved ones in a single night.
If I had told him the truth then, it would have driven him to seek death.”
Qing Yi looked at Bai Shuo in astonishment.
Although she had become an immortal, Bai Shuo had only lived for about twenty years in the mortal world.
Back then, Chong Zhao was young, but so was Bai Shuo.
Yet she had led Chong Zhao on a desperate escape, found the immortal mountains, and stepped onto the path of immortality.
Her resilience surpassed even that of ordinary immortals.
If not for her shallow immortal roots and lack of innate talent for cultivation, this young woman before him would have been the most suitable candidate to achieve the Great Dao.
Thinking of this, a hint of regret flashed in Qingyi’s eyes.
“He doesn’t know the truth, and his hatred and obsession will fester in his heart, making it difficult to rid himself of inner demons. Even if he cultivates immortality, he will struggle to achieve the Great Dao,” Qing Yi shook his head.
“You’re smart enough to know that your method can only save him temporarily.”
“The path of immortality is eternal, while a mortal’s life is fleeting. I had originally thought that by the time Ah Zhao became an immortal, decades would have passed, and the mortal emperor would have changed many times over. I never expected…” Bai Shuo said dejectedly.
“You never expected that his talent for cultivation would be once-in-a-millennium, and that he would become an immortal lord in just three years, even daring to defy heaven’s will and assassinate the Ziwei?” Qingyi continued.
Bai Shuo nodded helplessly.
In truth, all of this was her doing.
Back then, when they encountered the dying Songhe on the Fire Ice Island, if Bai Shuo hadn’t saved him with her spiritual blood, and if Songhe hadn’t given Chong Zhao his immortal golden core to escape, Chong Zhao would never have become an immortal Lord in just a few short years.
“Then what about this?” Qing Yi waved his hand, and a broken arrow appeared in his palm.
Seeing Bai Shuo’s surprise, he added, “This is the Cloud Fire Arrow of Fu Ling from the Cold Spring Palace. I found it in the imperial city’s Dragon Protection Formation. If Chong Zhao assassinated the Ziwei to avenge his family, why would he be involved with demons?”
“It’s not like that,” Bai Shuo said urgently.
“Back then, I ran away from the marriage, and Ah Zhao left the imperial city to search for me. By chance, he saved Fu Ling. At the time, he didn’t know that Fu Ling wasn’t a mortal. The reason the Cloud Fire Arrow appeared in the Ziwei’s palace was because Fu Ling wanted to repay his kindness.”
“I see.”
Qing Yi sighed softly.
He had initially thought that some immortals and demons had conspired to assassinate the Ziwei and disrupt the mortal realm’s fortunes.
He never expected it to be like this.
“Lord Qing Yi, I will definitely tell Ah Zhao the truth about the execution of his family and help him let go of his hatred and inner demons. Please don’t tell the heavenly palace that he was the one who broke into the imperial city and assassinated the Ziwei,” Bai Shuo pleaded, looking at Qing Yi.
Qing Yi remained silent for a long time.
Finally, he waved his hand and stored the Cloud Fire Arrow back in his sleeve.
“The Heavenly palace already knows about this. I must give Lord Jinyao a proper explanation.”
Bai Shuo’s face turned pale.
“Lord!”
“I will inform Lord Jinyao of the full story, explaining that the immortal who assassinated the Ziwei entered the palace solely to settle a mortal grudge, with no involvement with demons or any intent to disrupt the three realms. The divide between immortals and mortals is vast. Once one becomes an immortal, it is akin to being reborn. As long as he is willing to let go of his obsessions, Daze Mountain is willing to vouch for him. No one will know that the immortal who assassinated the Ziwei was him. From now on, he will simply be a disciple of Piaomiao, the young immortal who turned the tide for the immortals at the Wutong Martial Feast, and Chong Zhao, the one blessed by Lord Jinyao.”
Qing Yi’s words were gentle but firm.
Bai Shuo was stunned.
“Lord Qing Yi… you believe everything I just said?”
“Why wouldn’t I? You’ve only been immortals for a few years. The truth of this matter can be easily verified. If you were lying to me, it would only be temporary. What would be the point?”
“Why?”
Qing Yi looked puzzled as Bai Shuo murmured, “We have no relation to you, Lord. Why would you go so far for Ah Zhao…?”
In truth, Bai Shuo would have been grateful if Qing Yi simply didn’t expose the matter.
She never expected that he would be willing to vouch for Ah Zhao before Lord Jinyao on behalf of Daze Mountain.
Qing Yi’s expression faltered, and he fell silent for a moment.
He gazed into the distance, his eyes filled with nostalgia, as if remembering someone.
“My junior uncle once said that whether one is human, immortal, or demon, in this life—no matter how long or short—there will always be mistakes. Giving others a chance will leave fewer regrets in the world.”
Qing Yi looked down at Bai Shuo.
“I believe that a young man who could make you willing to abandon mortal glory and accompany him through life-and-death trials is not an evil person. So, I am willing to give him this chance.”
Bai Shuo’s eyes reddened, and her throat tightened, rendering her momentarily speechless.
For many years, she and Ah Zhao had left the mortal world and stepped into the vast realm of immortals.
They had endured ridicule and injustice along the way.
Throughout this journey, she had played the fool, acting shrewdly and pretending to be naive, all to protect Chong Zhao and ensure his survival.
It was her debt to him.
In her heart, what difference was there between the immortal realm she had once yearned for and the mortal world? Both were filled with strife, power struggles, and schemes.
It wasn’t until this moment that she truly understood the truth behind the stories she had read—that the Great Dao was eternal, and heavenly justice was fair.
In this world, there was a mountain called Daze, and the people within it could uphold such principles.
“Alright, the grand banquet is the day after tomorrow. Lord Jinyao has summoned him to the heavenly palace to bestow his blessings personally. He is no longer that weak young boy. Tell him the truth, and let go of the past. There’s no need to cling to mortal affairs.”
Qing Yi smiled, patted Bai Shuo on the shoulder, and then turned to enter the Jiuhua Pavilion.
Bai Shuo nodded vigorously, wanting to say something, but ultimately felt that words were too insignificant. There was no need to speak.
She let out a long sigh, and for some reason, her gaze fell on the corner of the Xiaoyao Pavilion nearby.
She had originally thought… that it would be *him* waiting in the Jiuhua Pavilion to interrogate her.
She had gone to see Ah Zhao, teased the blacksmith and the little fox, but the one person who was so close, she hadn’t dared to meet.
She had come all the way to Wutong Island, not only because she was worried about Ah Zhao’s safety, but also because she wanted to ask that person directly.
Was her little disciple still there?
No, Bai Shuo knew.
If Mumu were still here, he would have come to her when he saw the spiritual tea brewed with water from the Yaochi water.
Bai Shuo’s expression turned desolate, and belatedly, she felt a wave of sadness, as if she were about to cry.
Suddenly, a faint movement stirred in her spiritual core, and a warm sensation spread through her.
Bai Shuo raised her hand in confusion, touching her forehead, where the long-dormant Dark Moon Mark flickered briefly.
What was this…?
Bai Shuo jolted.
How could she have forgotten!
She had made a soul contract with the big Demon.
As long as the big Demon refined the Bodhi Wood, she would be able to sense it.
That night on Piaomiao Island, she had unintentionally interrupted Fan Yue’s refinement of the Bodhi Wood with her spiritual blood, summoning him, and then he had become Mumu!
If she tried the same method again, would Mumu return?
Without hesitation, Bai Shuo sliced her palm and pressed it to her forehead.
In a pavilion on Phoenix Island, Nan Wan stood by the window with a deep expression.
Shou’an hurried in and whispered a few words into Nan Wan’s ear.
“What? Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I went to Piaomiao myself and used illusions to confuse a few disciples. I found out that on the night the Ziwei was assassinated, Chong Zhao happened to leave the East Sea. When he returned, he was injured. Do you remember, Senior Brother? The heavenly palace once issued a secret order stating that the immortal who assassinated the Ziwei had help from demons. That day in the stone hall of the Yi city, I saw with my own eyes that he was wearing demon armor.”
“He dares to assassinate the Ziwei and disrupt the mortal realm’s fortunes? He really is a lackey of the demons!” Nan Wan roared in anger.
“I’ll report this to our master immediately!”
Nan Wan hurried away, and a strange smile appeared on Shou’an’s face.
With a flash of spiritual light, Fu Ling revealed her true form.
“Fool,” Fu Ling curled her lips, glancing in the direction of Songhe’s courtyard.
“Chong Zhao, Chong Zhao, you always said that immortals and demons are different. Let’s see how you’ll handle it when the whole world sees you as a demon.”
In the inner hall of Xiaoyao, the candlelight flickered gently.
Fan Yue sat cross-legged, meditating with his eyes closed.
Above him, the Bodhi Heartfire burned, slowly transforming into a beam of spiritual light that shot into the seven-pointed star array on his chest.
Nurtured by the Phoenix Emperor’s divine power, this Bodhi Wood was pure in spiritual energy, and Fan Yue had no trouble refining it.
Just as the last wisp of spiritual light was about to settle into his chest, the Bodhi Wood flashed brightly and then fell to the ground with a soft thud.
The refinement was interrupted again, and Fan Yue’s expression changed.
A splitting headache struck him, and he clutched his temples, a flicker of struggle passing through his eyes.
At that moment, something fell from above and landed on him.